Second Recliner (Themiclesian railway)

Second Recliner (次等座臥車, qsnih-ateng-dzar-ngwah-kla) is a type of passenger coach and class of service on Passenger rail transport in Themiclesia. It was experimentally introduced in 1933, withdrawn in 1935, and re-introduced in 1938 as a replacement for sleepers that were banned under the wartime austerity policy. After the war, these coaches slowly replaced Second Open coaches and are now the predominant mid-market coach in Themiclesia.

Background

By the 1930s, journeys within Themiclesia-proper could mostly be completed within 18 hours. Services were delineated as either day or overnight trains based on whether they ran during daytime or departed in the afternoon and arrived in the next morning (overnight trains). Day trains utilized seating coaches of various classes, while night trains consisted of open section and private room coaches. The distinction was strict observed: sleeper coaches were not used on day trains, and seating coaches not for overnight services.

Yet between Themiclesia-proper and the interior, services ran for as many as four days, and low frequency meant it would be sensible to take day or overnight passengers onto these services in addition to multi-night passengers. The Recliner coach was thus introduced in 1933 as an alternative for travellers during daytime or for overnight service. By 1935, the Recliner coach was withdrawn, evidently not considered a success.

However, general mobilization in response to the Menghean invasion compelled drastic changes on railroads in the name of security and austerity. By 1938, sleeper trains were deprecated both for their lower efficiency and the danger of night raids. Yet with sleeper trains gone, government officials found travel between distant cities tiresome, prompting National Rail to relaunch the Recliner. While genuine sleeper coaches like open sections and private rooms were barred, National Rail argued that the Recliner was a day coach, even though its seats could recline into makeshift beds. Moreover, the Recliner had a capacity of 44 passengers, only 4 shy of the standard Second Open coach, which remained permissible. Thus, the Recliner was authorized as a mixed-use coach under a directive of mixed day and night traffic.

In the war's early years, the Recliner coach was only made available to quite senior figures, but by 1944, ameliorating conditions allowed a new batch of 20 coaches, converted from other bodies, to enter service. At a standard pre-war length for steel coaches of 72', capacity was typically 44 passengers, whereas for composite coaches of 65', 36 passengers were accommodated.

After the war in Themicesia ended in early 1944, night trains recommenced operations in 1945. These services consisted of Recliner coaches that still aimed to maximize capacity and limit tractive effort required. It was not until 1947, with Menghe fully pacified, that true sleeper coaches with sections were permitted on railways (which were still strictly controlled by the government). Thus, Recliner coaches were gradually withdrawn from night services while remaining on day services, where passengers still liked them for their reclining ability.

It has been noted that the Recliner's acceptability as a day coach is attributable to the relaxation of social etiquette required or accompanied by the war effort. Formerly, it would have been socially quite improper to recline in public and in daytime, but by the end of the war such was no longer as shocking for passengers.

Particulars

Features

Series	5.0	5.2	6.0	6.1	6MU	6.2	7.0	7MU	7.1	7MU.1	8.0	8MU	9.0
Year	1933	1948	1954	1957	1959	1961	1969	1977	1981	1985	1992	1992	2001
Seat pitch (in.)	52	52	52	50	50	48	50	48	48	50	46	50	50
Seat width (in.)	23	23	24	24	23	24	23	23	23	23	23	23	23
Seat recline	165°	165°	145°	145°	135°	135°	135°	135°	135°	135°	135°	135°	135°
Seat table	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leg rest	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Foot rest	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Personal light	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Personal AC	N/A	Some	Some	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes